as in moderate
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas
several centrist candidates were elected, apparently in a reaction against the extremists
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as in reformer
a person who holds moderate views
the centrists will most likely rally behind the candidate who favors reforming the government program—not abolishing it entirely
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Recent Examples of centrist
Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
Image Image Rising to national prominence in the Senate, Mr. Boren became a centrist, allying himself on many issues with President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, both Republicans.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
The pushback from centrists is a change of pace, as hard-line conservatives and budget hawks in the House Freedom Caucus are typically the thorns in Johnson’s side.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Feb. 2025
Some recent polls indicate that the governing centrist and center-left parties could suffer major defeats, with the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) expected to finish first and second.
—TIME, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Noun
Starmer, a centrist, will be in Washington on Thursday, following Monday's White House visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
—Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
Image Image Rising to national prominence in the Senate, Mr. Boren became a centrist, allying himself on many issues with President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, both Republicans.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
The pushback from centrists is a change of pace, as hard-line conservatives and budget hawks in the House Freedom Caucus are typically the thorns in Johnson’s side.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Feb. 2025
Some recent polls indicate that the governing centrist and center-left parties could suffer major defeats, with the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) expected to finish first and second.
—TIME, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Cite this Entry
“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrist. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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